BRITISH POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17977, 24 March 1930, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS.

LIBERAL SECEDES. JOINS THE CONSERVATIVES. CAPTAIN GUEST'S DECISION. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel.—Copyright. LONDON, Alarch 22. Captain F. E. Guest., who sat in the last Parliament as Liberal member of the House of Commons for Bristol North, lias written to the Leader of the Opposition, ATr Baldwin, announcing Ids desire to join the Conservatives. For some time past, Captain Guest says, lie Ims found increasing difficulty in believing that the Liberals under their present leadership can maintain their past high traditions and principles. Also he wonders whether fiscal and economic systems based on facts a quarter of a century old arc no longer unchallengeable. Captain Guest says he sincerely believes that the policy of which Air Baldwin now is a protagonist is the only one which will give security under the working-class conditions in Britain and which represents a consistent pursuit of national and Imperial policy as against class policy. Air Baldwin has replied, cordially welcoming Captain Guest as a recruit to his party. The Times, after denying the. rumours that- a Labour-Liberal alliance was arranged at Airs Snowden’s party, draws attention to the fact that the company included Liberals like Air Vivian Phillips and Sir Charles Alallet, who arc opposed to ATr Lloyd George’s policy, and would not consider such an alliance. It reasserts that the party was wholly concerned with free trade, which is the policy for which AirsSnowden shares her husband s enthusiasm. The Times adds that the special strength of the Government is that none of three parlies wants to appeal to tile country before the spring ol next rear at the earliest. The Liberal Party wilt further consider its position in relation to the third reading of the Coat Alines Bill at its next meeting on Tuesday.